Sat 7 Oct 2006
A sad and pathetic tale
Posted by Marlow Harris under Real Estate
[15] Comments
I attended an education conference sponsored by the Washington Association of Realtors. One of the seminars was REALTORS(c) and Blogs, taught by Dustin Luther and Russ Cofano of Rain City Guide. There were about 200 people in the audience. All around me were real estate agents and brokers. Dustin was enthusiastic and clearly excited about the topic. Russ was even-tempered and a presence of authority and gravitas. It was a perfect set-up, and the 3 hours were packed with information. However, some in the crowd around me grumbled. A few harumphed. Others were skeptical. What is this blogging thing of which you speak, they asked? Where do you find these blogging things? Who reads these blogs? What IS a BLOG? Yes, it would be fair to say most did not get it. The average age of real estate agents in the U.S. is 54 years old. Now, maturity is not a bad thing. Age can bring experience and wisdom. But what I witnessed, mostly (not totally, but I’d say a good majority) were anachronistic responses better suited for the last century. Yes, all used a computer, all had cellphones. But that’s about it… really.
The most telling thing about this experience? Dustin asked the audience to go back home or to the office and look at Rain City Guide and leave a comment.
It’s now been 48 hours since the seminar. And we’re still waiting……. Not one attendee could bother, not a one.
C’mon you guys! I want to root for you, all you old cotton-heads and grandpa’s and soccer-moms-turned real estate agents. Let’s go! Show us what you’re worth, that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks, that you ARE willing to keep up with modern technology and modern times, that you DO want to learn new techniques and ways of doing business. Prove to me that you see the value of social networking and open communication, that you embrace new modes of doing business and innovative ways to maximize your potential. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE??!!??
Sorry. Ok. I’m calmer now.
I know that others don’t see this as we do. I know that, but I can’t believe it.
I work in an office of about 50 agents. Out of those, 3 have and read real estate blogs. And we’re in a dense urban core in one of the most wired cities in the U.S.. So extrapolate those figures out to the rest of the U.S. and it’s a pretty dismal showing…. However it’s just a matter of time, as the current agents retire and younger ones come up to take their place, that agents will enter the fray. But I’m getting impatient and I’m eager to take my business to a new level. But I’m not working in a vacuum. I do not see the professional competency I would like mirrored in all of my co-workers. I want to be surrounded with professionals who take their jobs seriously and who radiate competency and confidence. I want to be around smart people who are intellectually challenging and who are interested in doing the best job they can for their customers and clients.
I’m not saying that all agents should have blogs, or even need personal websites. Many don’t have much to say. However, all have the obligation to stay up on market conditions and their local economy and current affairs that effect their market area. They should have both a micro and a macro approach to real estate, so they can best advise their clients, be they investment buyers or just those searching for their dream home.
If agents can’t police themselves, then real estate associations need to raise the standards and licensing requirements and brokers need to be more selective and not so eager to fill an empty desk. Agents have a responsibility to their clients to strive to learn as much as they can about the market and the new tools that are out there that will assist them in becoming more efficient and competent in their jobs.
Agents and brokers should real local newspapers and websites for local news and they should also keep up with national and international trends in real estate and other issues that effect the economic climate. They should make it a point to keep up with new technological changes and innovations, both in real estate and in the market in general. They should also read and understand current events and political matters, as those have a huge impact on both the local and national economy, and they should become students of human behavior, as all these things will help them in their understanding of current conditions in the marketplace and help them understand the buying habits, fears and concerns of their customers and clients.
And of course, to round out their knowledge on contemporary real estate issues and concerns, they should read and comment on real estate blogs!
October 7th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Marlow
Great observations. As I was presenting, I continually scanned the crowd and was taken back by the demographics of the audience. You were there. Does this age group really dominate the industry?
Not sure if you caught my comment but I told the crowd that the most important thing they could take away from the seminar was the necessity to get a mobile email device. My guess, without asking, was that the majority did not have one and if they did, it probably was not used on a regular basis. People who don’t yet “get” that email has taken the place of the telephone certainly won’t “get” the power of blogs.
Having said this, I was encouraged by the folks that came up after the class who indicated their enthusiasm to enter the Blogosphere. It is people like you and these courageous folks who will drive the industry forward.
Russ
October 7th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Actually, there a ONE who commented almost immediately. But just one.
October 7th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Ardell, I think the one agent who commented (besides me) was a broker named Cheryl from L.A., who wasn’t even there.
Now, in their defense, this was a STATE-WIDE real estate conference, and there were many agents and brokers from rural areas around Washington State. I sat in learning circles with agents from Benton, Clackamas and Grant County whose specialty were ranches and pig farms, and knew more about septic systems and wells than I’ll ever know. A lot of them probably sold real estate to the guys down at the Grange Hall or at a booth set up at the County Fair. Whatever their back story though, I was still blown away by our different perspectives of the real estate world that we all inhabit.
October 7th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Marlow,
I share many of your frustations and hopes for our industry. The unfortunate part is that, at least in my market, I don’t find that it’s necessarily the smart, politcally informed and plugged in agents who get the the majority of the business. I am sure you know what I mean. My broker actually does not know how to log onto the MLS. His assistant is not much better. Yet he sells at least $40,000,000 every year. In the end, it comes back to connections, networking and being liked in the community, much as I wish the values were elsewhere.
October 7th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Your take on it is obviously interesting…
I had numerous people who showed so much interest afterwards that I walked away feeling pretty good. But if we’re only reaching a few dozen out of a few hundred people that is definitely a telling experience…
After our previous bloginars, we had a lot more online activity afterwards (including lots of comments and a huge spike in traffic). That didn’t happen this round and I think the fact that people were offered course credits for this seminar had something to do with the fact. In previous seminars where people not only had to pay directly, but they didn’t get the automatic course credits, I think we attracted a different and quite possibly more receptive crowd.
Thanks again for your observations!
October 7th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Hi Guys,
I believe you know I’ve been teaching a clock hour class called “New Media” for many months now which includes a segment on blogging. I would have loved to have been there in the audience cheering on Dustin and Russ, but other commitments kept me away from WAR this year.
Recently I had a woman in my New Media class who need me to slow wAY DOwn. Realtors come in to tech classes with a wide variety of technology know-how. This particular Realtor had not touched a video camera since the 1960s and didn’t know that today’s digital video cams actually come with a microphone.
As instructors, it is almost impossible to slow down enough for folks who seriously need it and not go too far off the other side for the agents who are already super tech savvy. What usually happens is the green Realtors end up feeling slightly overwhelmed and motivated and the tech savy Realtors end up picking up a few new ideas and tricks.
A LONG time ago, I use to teach Realtor tech classes right at the begining of the technology wave. (1989: The first DOS version of Metroscan hit Snohomish County.) As Web 2.0 explodes in front of us, what’s old is new again and Realtors who are afraid of or confused about blogging, myspace, youtube, zillow, redfin, base.google, and so forth, will once again be left in the dust.
October 8th, 2006 at 5:39 am
I know exactly how you feel. I am in the Toronto, Ontario, markets and only about 15% of agents have a website, of which only a few agent know enough to have sites that are index-able. If you ask the vast majority of agents if they have even heard of a Blog they get a glazed look on their face, as they try to decide if they should admit not knowing about something or bluff and hope that there are no follow up question.
I have been blogging since November and I have found it incredibly good at attracting clients and boosting my SERPs.
In this industry, like any, we have to constantly look at where the trends are going not only in the markets but also in the methods that buyers and sellers use to find REALTORS® and trade real estate. Websites and Blogs are a big part of the future of the real estate industry. IMO
October 8th, 2006 at 11:14 am
Yeah, I did comment, but it was only to say that if Dustin had an overflow of volunteer contributors to send some my way.
Since he did say several people came up to him afterwards and asked about becoming RCG contributors.
October 9th, 2006 at 10:01 am
Dustin, I think you’re right about the audience. While it was difficult to speak to you with all your ‘fans’ crowded around, a good number of the grumblers who held back were only there for the clock hours. You’d get a whole different audience if they were there on their own dime, with no credit towards their license renewal.
Anyway, carry on the good work and continue with your incredible evangelical crusade for the value of blogging.
October 9th, 2006 at 10:12 am
I can tell you as a newbie blogger myself (4 weeks on active rain today) the whole thing can be a little intimidating! As is my style, I jumped in with both feet and even starting a baby newbie blog Twin City Real Estate http://lisadunn.typepad.com/twin_cities_real_estate/ (shamless plug, but I thought you’d get a kick out of seeing a newer neo-blog-phite in action!) It’s a pretty steep learning curve, and I’m still learning…but loving it! boy does it stretch me as a professional!
October 9th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
From the perspective of a vendor, WAR (Wash Assoc of Realtors state convention) attracts Realtors from all over the state. In fact, most of the attendees are not from Seattle/Puget Sound, which is why they probably were scratching their heads.
We have mandatory continuing ed for many reasons, one of which is to keep current on trends and issues. At least the older crowd wandered in to the unfamiliar territory of the blogging seminar instead of the safety and comfort of the “baby boomer” session.
The Realtors who stretch and push themselves outside their comfort zone like Lisa Dunn will survive and thrive. You are a role model for your peers, Lisa.
October 10th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Like your office, out of nearly 80 agents only two of us blog in my office…and we’re just down the Hill from you. It’s not age; I think the average age in our office is a couple of decades younger than the national average. And, most of the agents are tech-savvy, but they use technology to do business rather than to build business.
As we move to a single-license system and as technology advances the industry, those who don’t adapt or further their knowledge will be left by the way side. That’s a good thing, no?
October 10th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
Great thoughts Marlow – and great followup comments by others. You all know that websites and blogging are valuable tools that allow you to better connect with your (potential) clients. Maybe the entire general public isn’t quite there yet, but I believe it will be soon: reading real estate blogs to find a competent agent, to learn about the buying process, to explore new neighborhoods. When the public starts reading blogs first, before anything else, all of you will be there waiting. The good, transparent real estate agents/bloggers will shine through – and the ones who can barely log on to the MLS or string a coherent sentence together will fall to the wayside. The death of the successful ‘smooth talker’ may be upon us…
October 16th, 2006 at 10:43 am
Hello,
Thanks for the link to my site. Due to the unexpected popularity of that site I decided to buy a domain. (In large part due to your link.) So here is a link to the new Investing Sensei site.
http://investingsensei.org
Thanks for getting the word out,
Johnny,
The Investing Sensei
October 19th, 2006 at 9:12 am
Hello. I’m late coming in on the conversation, but I just have to say that I’m blown away by the coincidence here. On October 5th, on the other side of the country in Wilmington, North Carolina, I attended a seminar on blogging for real estate agents and the exact same thing happened. The mood in the audience was one of stodgy skepticism. “I don’t know about this blog thing…sounds like too much work. Write something every day? Who has time for that? Besides, I’m still trying to figure out how to launch my website.”
I think most of the people in the audience were only waiting around to see if their names were drawn for the raffle at the end of the presentation.
Considering the biggest group of potential clients for our area are people from out of state, blogs are an excellent way to connect with them. I’ve got mine up and running (though it’s a work in progress) and judging from the reaction of those in attendance, I won’t have much competition.